Chapter 7: The Surprise Exam Is No Problem

One hour earlier.

"Wooow."

The airship resembled a whale.

Large fins fluttered on both sides, and a long tail adorned the stern. There was no vertical mast typical of ships.

The difference from a whale was the flat deck covering the top, suitable for human activity.

On the spacious deck, academy staff, prospective students, and crew moved about in confusion. Supplies and luggage were transferred through the hands of servants.

A pink-haired girl spun in circles on the spot. Her gaze frantically surveyed the airship.

"It's huge!"

『It seems they modeled it after a sky whale.』

Ooh.

Pastel ran to the deck railing and looked down at the ground. The fantasy city receded beyond the horizon, and the sea spread out before her.

Her pink hair fluttered in the wind.

She waved her hand over the railing.

"What happens if you fall?"

Magic goes poof poof?

The magic sword spoke firmly.

『You die.』

Eh?

Pastel looked down at the dizzying height to the ground.

"Isn't there any safety measure?"

『If a strong wind blows, hold tight to the railing. It's your only lifeline.』

Uwah.

"Since there's water below, wouldn't they rescue you or something?"

『At this height, you'd die instantly from internal rupture upon impact with the water surface.』

Uwah.

Pastel moved far away from the deck railing.

So dangerous.

Suddenly, she heard whispering. Noble children were muttering to each other while looking her way.

There was an empty space in the crowd centered around the pink-haired girl.

Pastel's eyes widened.

After thinking for a moment, she raised her hand high.

"Hello, friends!"

The noble children flinched. They looked at each other, then scattered in all directions.

Hmm, no one's responding?

Pastel lowered her hand.

"Mr. Demon, take your pick."

A country bumpkin has arrived. Must be her first time on an airship.

Stitching marks on a winter dress? No servant? Totally lacking in dignity.

Who's that? Is she really a noble? Does anyone know her?

Pink pink? Wow, it's the fallen Craft family.

『...Don't pay attention to them. None of them really know you. People shouldn't judge based on first impressions alone.』

"I know! I know! Ahaha!"

Pastel burst out laughing by herself.

"Finally, a place where people live!"

The monster mansion was too difficult an environment.

It's nice to smell people.

She ran her hand through her pink hair. Her hair fluttered pleasantly in the wind.

"Prospective students, please enter your rooms! You must wait there until you're called!"

"Okay!"

Pastel entered her assigned cabin. Below deck, there were spacious areas on each floor. It was like a cruise ship.

After resting for a while, she heard the call for prospective students and came out onto the deck.

The deck was covered with desks and chairs.

Noble children emerged onto the deck, looking bewildered. Only a few seemed to have an idea of what was going on.

Once everyone had gathered, a professor with a sturdy build came forward. He had an inflexible expression that looked like it wouldn't budge an inch.

"Welcome to the Academy Airship. We'll be holding a surprise exam."

Test papers and writing materials were placed on the desks.

Eh?

Eh?

A written exam?!

"Those who fail can go over there."

The professor firmly pointed his finger beyond the railing.

The pale sky stretched out.

Uwaaah.

Is this a fantasy death game?

Do you need to be prepared to die to enter the academy?

One noble child screamed.

The professor paused, then looked at the direction he had pointed. Belatedly, another airship rose into the open sky.

His finger pointed to the new airship.

"Failed students will return. Home."

Phew.

"There's no second chance. Give up on enrollment and prepare for a different life."

Uwaaah...!

Pastel received her test paper.

—Explain the impact of demon realm exploration on the national economy, focusing on the geopolitical value of Sky Island.

An, an essay question?

Flutter flutter.

All of them?!

Her breath caught in her throat.

Isn't the difficulty level weird?

Was the school I'm trying to enter not a middle or high school? Is it a university? Don't tell me it's graduate school?

Ugh ugh ugh ugh.

I've barely learned to read and write this language!

『Stay calm. It's just a scheduled written exam being conducted as a surprise.』

She glanced around.

The students were flourishing their quill pens impressively.

Uwah uwah.

Only me...!

『I'll dictate, you just write it down.』

Uwaaah.

『To understand the geopolitical value of Sky Island, we must examine several theoretical frameworks.』

The quill pen moved frantically.

Uwaaaah.

『As the burden of long-distance navigation decreased, private sector exploration became more active. As the center of demon realm exploration shifted from the state to the private sector...』

Uwaaaaaah.

Flutter flutter flutter.

She completed writing on the last test paper.

Thump.

I totally failed.

If I had just one year, I could have solved it shu shu shuk.

Shu shu shu shu shuk.

I completely failed the exam.

Isn't the test too difficult?

"I will announce the results."

Pastel Love Craft.

476 points.

Top scorer in the written exam.

Isn't the test too difficult?

For the other kids, I mean.

Hehe, life is easy.

...

Top scorer, Pastel Love Craft - 476 points

Second place, Melissa Camelot - 327 points

The blonde, blue-eyed girl stared blankly at the wall where the scores were posted.

She couldn't even hear the commotion around her.

Second place?

I'm in second place?

Melissa Camelot.

The precious daughter of the Margrave of Camelot.

A rising star in the magical world, destined to reach the realm of archmage.

Mother, Father.

I couldn't get the top score.

I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your trust.

I guess my efforts weren't enough.

Melissa stared blankly at the bulletin board.

Pastel Love Craft?

Who is that? I've never seen her at social gatherings.

Craft? Surely not that Craft?

—Don't even step on the shadow of a Craft, dear. Especially now that they've fallen. They're the type to stab you with a dagger while wearing an innocent face. Don't be deceived by appearances.

Melissa looked around. She searched for the pink hair she had only heard about.

She found her immediately.

"Hehe."

The pink-haired girl was grinning widely at the bulletin board. Her presence was impossible to miss.

An undignified expression, unrefined by emotion.

Shabby clothes unbefitting a high noble.

A family that fell when it should have shone the brightest.

Melissa was about to approach her.

"I'm in the lower ranks?!"

A muscular male student punched the wall. The longsword at his waist rattled.

Clearly...

Dustin Wilder of the Wilder Barony.

"This is meaningless! Who cares about written exams! It'll be decided by the practical test anyway!"

His gaze roughly scanned the surroundings.

When he spotted Melissa, he flinched and looked elsewhere.

His wandering gaze landed on the pink-haired girl, still grinning and lost in her own world.

The male student's face suddenly crumpled.

"Hey, you!"

His footsteps stomped heavily on the ground.

The crowd of students parted.

The delicate girl, finally grasping the situation, opened her eyes wide.

"Oh, hello friend. Do you need something from me? Are you asking to be friends? Probably not, right?"

The male student glared at the girl.

His gaze confirmed her pink hair and pink eyes. Then it fell on her slender arms and the plain sword.

"You're the top scorer, right?"

"That's how it turned out."

Hehe.

The male student flinched, then shook his head and scowled again.

He pulled out a handkerchief from his chest. The handkerchief flew and hit the girl's face.

"Let's duel."

Melissa frowned.

Taking out his frustrations, how vulgar.

The girl's eyes widened.

"Wow?! A duel? This is my first time!"

Wow wow.

The male student was dumbfounded.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

"I do!"

The girl looked around.

At the gathered crowd and their stares.

"But are you okay with this?"

Concern pricked at the male student.

"You'll be humiliated if you lose."

"What?"

The male student's face hardened.

Murmur murmur.

Melissa opened her mouth in shock. Then she covered her mouth with one hand and was shocked again.

Mother, your advice was right.

We shouldn't judge people by their appearance.

Really.

...

Pastel hummed to herself.

Duel, it's a duel.

"How do we duel? He threw a handkerchief, but it can't be a duel to the death between students, right?"

Stab stab?

She held up the magic sword and examined the blade. When she ran her finger along the diagonal, she felt a cool sensation.

Isn't this too dangerous?

『It's important to stop the attack just before it hits. That's why they use special equipment for duels. It should be over there.』

She found and picked up a practice sword.

"The blade is just for show? And it's light and thin too."

She swung it around.

Is this what a rapier feels like?

『It's a feather sword. Feel the weight. The center of gravity should be closer to the handle. Thanks to that, it's much easier to stop attacks.』

"Ooh, you're right. But with a weapon like this, can't we not use some techniques?"

『Dueling and real combat are fundamentally different. You need to attack honestly and receive attacks honestly. That's how you reduce the risk of injury.』

Hmm.

"No kicking?"

『That much is allowed.』

"What about punching?"

『Allowed. It's okay to cause some wounds. As long as it's not a severe injury.』

"What about throwing dirt?"

『...How far are you planning to go?』

Pastel nodded.

"I'll fight a fair and square duel!"

Yay.

The delicate girl stood before her opponent.

The muscular male student stretched his shoulders. His thick arms made a sound.

How much strength training has he done?

The professor stood in the center with a disinterested expression.

The procedures for duel etiquette were carried out and finished.

"Respect each other."

"Yes!"

The male student pointed his sword.

Pastel took her stance.

Let the force flow.

She spread her feet wide.

135-degree open stance.

『Try receiving him head-on. You're not the weaker one here.』

A voice came from her waist.

Pastel flinched, then narrowed her feet.

45-degree closed stance.

A head-on confrontation.

The professor flipped a coin.

The coin fell to the ground.

The male student kicked off the ground. His sword was raised high.

A vertical slash?

The blade tilted diagonally.

No, a diagonal slash.

Pastel moved to match. She mirrored his action. Her sword was raised and tilted diagonally.

Her opponent's brow twitched.

The girl swung her sword.

Sword met sword.

The impact rang out.

Blade slid along blade. The bases of the blades separated and their crossguards interlocked.

The moment the swords were fixed.

Their gazes met. His eyes glared at the girl. A question of whether she wanted to test strength.

Pastel inhaled as if to say yes. The male student furrowed his brow and inhaled in response.

One, two, three!

The girl pushed her sword with all her might.

The male student met her force, putting his whole body into it. His muscles bulged.

The full strength of their bodies crossed.

The blades made a noise.

The ground was scraped away.

Spectators rose from their seats.

The male student staggered.

"Huh?"

His eyes widened.

An opening.

The girl suddenly pushed the interlocked crossguards to the side. Her opponent's sword was helplessly pushed outward, slashing at empty air.

Her sword swung towards the exposed torso. The trajectory aimed for the unresisting neck.

The blade stopped just short.

It tapped the nape of his neck.

Her opponent collapsed as if all strength had left him.

Pastel exhaled while maintaining her stance.

Cheers erupted.

The girl tilted her head.

Hmm, how should I put it.

She clenched and unclenched her fist repeatedly.

I used my strength, but I don't feel particularly tired.

The male student looked up with a dazed expression.

Pastel looked down at him with a subtle expression.

"Why are you so weak?"

"W-what?"

The male student was bewildered.

Ah.

"Sorry, my inner thoughts came out."

Her opponent's face rapidly turned red.

"You...!"

The male student lunged at her.

A fist came flying.

Pastel's eyes widened.

Oh?

Is this our friend's new way of greeting?

Suddenly, a light flashed from the edge of her vision.

A light bullet raced through the air.

The light struck the male student. Electricity exploded and a scream rang out.

The male student collapsed, unconscious.

Oh?

The sound of footsteps approached.

A girl in a magician's robe walked over. She held a staff in her hand.

Golden hair fluttered.

Blue eyes gazed at Pastel.

"Then shall I be your opponent, top scorer?"

It was a gentle, composed voice.